CEU Changes in Florida

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I was going to do some CEU's today before school started and decided to check the BON's website. I'm glad I did because I didn't realize the CEU requirements in Florida has changed since I last renewed.

All Florida-licensed RN's and LPNs are now in a 24-month renewal cycle and must complete 24 hours of appropriate continuing education during each renewal period. One (1) contact hour is required for each calendar month of the licensure cycle, including two (2) hours on Prevention of Medical Errors. HIV/AIDS is now a one-time, 1-hour CE requirement to be completed prior to the first renewal. Domestic Violence CE is now a 2-hour requirement every third renewal. For example, if you renew your license on January 31, 2007, you are required to complete the Domestic Violence CE before the January 31, 2011 renewal.

[font=book antiqua]hey tweety! i am keeping my fl license active though i now live in tennessee and practice here too. i am thankful you shared, because they still require me to keep up. thanks again!:spin:

Thank you, Tweety! I'm new to all this & have been trying to search for info on FL CEU requirements (even asked people at work) & couldn't find any...guess I just wasn't looking in the right place! Anyway, thank you !

I was going to do some CEU's today before school started and decided to check the BON's website. I'm glad I did because I didn't realize the CEU requirements in Florida has changed since I last renewed.

All Florida-licensed RN's and LPNs are now in a 24-month renewal cycle and must complete 25 hours of appropriate continuing education during each renewal period. One (1) contact hour is required for each calendar month of the licensure cycle, including two (2) hours on Prevention of Medical Errors. HIV/AIDS is now a one-time, 1-hour CE requirement to be completed prior to the first renewal. Domestic Violence CE is now a 2-hour requirement every third renewal. For example, if you renew your license on January 31, 2007, you are required to complete the Domestic Violence CE before the January 31, 2011 renewal.

Thanks for bringing thsi to our attention but I looked at the lin you gave and it states you need 24 hours of continuing education not 25 hours....so which one is correct

"All Florida-licensed RN's and LPNs are now in a 24-month renewal cycle and must complete 24 hours of appropriate continuing education during each renewal period. One (1) contact hour is required for each calendar month of the licensure cycle, including two (2) hours on Prevention of Medical Errors. HIV/AIDS is now a one-time, 1-hour CE requirement to be completed prior to the first renewal. Domestic Violence CE is now a 2-hour requirement every third renewal. For example, if you renew your license on January 31, 2007, you are required to complete the Domestic Violence CE before the January 31, 2011 renewal."

Possibly the 25 hours is in the first renewal cycle only, because it includes the 1 hr 1 time HIV CEU. The 25 comes up in the answer to one of the "questions" below the statement of requirements. It is confusing--can't tell if they made a typo in the question (see 6th question) or if this particular question is including the HIV/AIDS as an extra 1 hr to be done before the first renewal. Below is cut & paste from DOH website.

Or, is it possible they had a typo stating "25" in the first question, corrected it to 24, but neglected to correct the number in the 6th question. As I said-----VERY CONFUSING.

Q: How many contact hours do I need to renew my license? I endorsed in from another state.
A: All Florida-licensed RN's and LPNs are now in a 24-month renewal cycle and must complete 24 hours of appropriate continuing education during each renewal period. One (1) contact hour is required for each calendar month of the licensure cycle, including two (2) hours on Prevention of Medical Errors. HIV/AIDS is now a one-time, 1-hour CE requirement to be completed prior to the first renewal. Domestic Violence CE is now a 2-hour requirement every third renewal. For example, if you renew your license on January 31, 2007, you are required to complete the Domestic Violence CE before the January 31, 2011 renewal.

Q: Can I use college courses for continuing education?
A: Contact hours may be awarded for completion of credit courses in nursing at an accredited institution of higher learning. General education may not be used for C.E. credit.

Q: How do college courses convert to contact hours?
A: One credit hour per quarter converts to ten contact hours. One credit hour per semester converts to fifteen contact hours. In order to receive continuing education credit, retain transcripts or legible dated grade reports for four years in case you are audited.

Q: Can I use hours I have earned in another state?
A: Offerings that are approved by a state or national nursing organization empowered to accredit continuing education standards are approved for continuing education, with the exception of HIV/AIDS and Domestic Violence which must be from a Florida-approved provider.

Q: I have earned over 100 hours. Can I carry the balance over to the next renewal period?
A: No, all hours must be earned within your renewal period and cannot be carried over.

Q: I have received my renewal notice and have not completed my 25 contact hours. Can I mail my renewal in and complete my hours later?
A: No, Nurses must complete C.E. requirements within the appropriate biennium. By sending in your renewal and fee you have affirmed that you have complied with all licensure renewal requirements.

Myxel, perhaps we should email them and get clarification, which is what someone may have done and they didn't correct it every single place.

I don't usually pay attention to the number of hours because I'm certified and need 150 every five years, so I make myself get at least 35 a year and I'm always way above what the state requires. So knowing what the minimum is wasn't an issue with me.

"Thank you for your inquiry. The continuing education for Registered Nurses is 24 Hours (Total). The two hours of medical errors is included in the 24 hours. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office at (850)488-0595 ext. 3."